The Likely Rise of an Extra

Kiel stared at Harlett, still trying to process the curveball she'd just thrown at him.

"I'm a newly recruited combat maid for the Selforts," she said matter-of-factly, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

"And your sister, Miss Elaine Selfort, tasked me to keep an eye on you while she's away on a mission."

Kiel blinked.

Then blinked again.

"…A combat maid?" he asked, just to make sure he hadn't misheard.

"Yes."

"For me?"

"Yes."

There was a long pause.

Kiel tilted his head slightly, squinting at her like she was an abstract painting he was trying to understand.

"So… you bake cookies and break necks?"

Harlett's expression didn't change. Not even a blink.

"If necessary."

Kiel exhaled loudly, half a laugh, half disbelief.

"Right. Of course. That makes perfect sense."

But deep down Kiel was a little annoyed.

Actually he was more curious than anything.

This could be exactly what he needed, something to help him piece together fragments of Kiel's life before he took over his body.

He'd gladly take whatever clues he could get.

And the fact that those clues were being delivered by a pink-eyed ninja "maid" just made it feel like the universe had a twisted sense of humor.

"So, let me get this straight," Kiel began, leaning back on the sofa with a dramatic sigh.

"You showing up at school, randomly befriending me, that was all my sister's doing?"

Harlett nodded without hesitation.

"Yes. Lady Elaine wanted me close to you in case anything happened."

Kiel drummed his fingers on the armrest, pretending to be cool about it, even though his brain was doing somersaults.

"Wow. And here I thought I was just incredibly charming."

That remark caused the faintest twitch at the corner of Harlett's mouth.

Not a smile.

Just… a twitch.

'No reaction?' Kiel thought.

Tough Crowd.

He wasn't sure if he was in any kind of danger that would justify his sister assigning him a personal slightly overpowered babysitter so he decided to ask her.

Also he didn't want to blow the fact that he wasn't the real Kiel.

Any wrong move could raise suspicion, and the last thing he needed was Harlett digging deeper.

Every word, every reaction had to be calculated, like walking a tightrope with no safety net.

One slip, and it could all come crashing down.

Harlett tilted her head slightly, studying him with those sharp pink eyes.

"So… why exactly did my sister ask you to keep an eye on me?" he asked, squinting at her suspiciously.

Harlett didn't hesitate.

"Because Lady Elaine is concerned about your safety."

"My safety? From what?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly and she seemed like she was hesitating but she eventually spoke.

"There are people who would prefer you… gone."

That wiped the smirk right off Kiel's face.

"Gone? What do you mean gone…?"

"Gone as in dead, Master." she replied bluntly, her tone as casual as if she'd just told him it might rain tomorrow.

Kiel stared at her, processing that lovely piece of information.

"Dead? That's a bit extreme, don't you think?"

"It's because you refused to take over as the head of the Selfort family. There are people who believe as long as you're alive, you might change your mind one day. And they'd rather eliminate that possibility."

Kiel's mind went blank for a second.

What kind of messed-up family politics was this?

He wasn't just some rich kid avoiding responsibility— he was apparently a walking target because of it?

"Wow," Kiel muttered, running a hand through his hair still maintaining his nonchalantly persona.

"Talk about holding a grudge."

Harlett remained silent, watching him like she was trying to read his mind.

Kiel forced a laugh, trying to shake off the unease crawling up his spine.

"Well, that's just great. Love to know I'm on someone's hit list."

Before Harlett could respond, her braclet buzzed.

She looked at Kiel with a worried expression on her face before answering it.

A small holographic display appeared and a distorted voice came through, low and mechanical.

"Hey Harlett it's Echo. Report to the Orchid immediately."

Harlett's eyes darkened as she clenched her fists.

"Understood."

She ended the call and looked back at Kiel, her expression so cold it could freeze the room.

"Master there's something that I need to tell you."

Kiel raised an eyebrow.

"More surprises? Should I sit down, or…?"

Harlett ignored the sarcasm.

"The only reason I allowed you to capture me earlier was because you're Lady Elaine's brother and I– I needed to tell you this face-to-face."

Kiel's playful grin faded.

"Tell me what?"

She took a breath, her eyes locking with his.

"Your sister might be in danger."

The words hit him harder than he expected.

For a second, he forgot to breathe.

"What do you mean 'might'?" he asked, his voice quieter now, stripped of its sarcasm.

"I haven't received any communication from her today," Harlett replied.

"Not even an encrypted message... That's never happened before."

Kiel tried to process it.

He remembered that his sister usually texted him every day— he'd seen it in the chat history on his phone.

But today? Nothing.

Not even a quick message to congratulate him on making it to Page Two.

At first, Kiel hadn't thought much of it.

Maybe she was busy. Maybe she forgot.

But now, after what Harlett just told him?

No. This wasn't just some random thing.

Elaine—the sister he'd never met but was now somehow responsible for—was possibly missing.

And it wasn't just some family drama. This was real. Serious.

He forced a shrug, masking the growing panic inside him.

"Maybe she's just busy."

Harlett shook her head.

"Not this busy. She always checks in, even during missions."

Kiel's heart raced, but he kept his face neutral.

"Okay… so what do we do?"

Harlett stood up and motioned for Kiel to untie her which he did.

Adjusting her sleeves with mechanical precision she spoke.

"I'm going to the Orchid. It's a secure location built by Elaine where we receive mission updates. If something's wrong, that's where I'll find out."

Kiel's mind raced.

Elaine could be in danger.

And even though he wasn't the real Kiel, there was a strange, unfamiliar pull in his chest.

Was this what worry felt like?

"You're not going alone," he blurted before he could stop himself.

Harlett blinked.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. I'm coming with you."

She stared at him, clearly surprised.

"Why, I thought you didn't want to get involved in family affairs."

Kiel hesitated for a second before answering.

"Because she's my sister."

His voice was quieter this time, the words tasting foreign but somehow true.

Harlett didn't argue.

She simply nodded.

"Then let's go."

'Now that I've said all this what the hell is all this talk about missions and stuff?!'